The third incarnation of the Rainbow Bay Festival, a two-day music event that features over 50 bands playing on seven stages, starts Saturday

Second-Hand Rose will play at the Rainbow Bay Festival this weekend.

Photo courtesy of Da Da Arts Promotion

The third edition of Rainbow Bay Festival (大彩虹音樂季) will take place at Greater Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區) this weekend. The two-day music marathon is considered one of the most influential music events in southern Taiwan, and organizers expect to draw more than 40,000 revelers to the event this year.

With Nobody Can Take Away My Courage as its theme, Rainbow hopes to encourage its musicians to overcome adversity. The 50-plus musical acts will perform on seven main stages: Big Rainbow stage (大彩虹舞台) for established bands, Small Rainbow stage (小彩虹舞台) for pop acts, Sun stage (日光舞台) for singer/songwriters, Moon stage (月光舞台) for heavy metal bands, Rainbow Party (彩虹派對) for hip hop acts, Courage stage (勇氣舞台) for underground bands and Earth stage (地球舞台) for the rave party.

“We’ve decided to highlight heavy metal music because it’s one of the more vibrant scenes over the past few years,” says Melisa Chiao (焦惠芬), CEO of Da Da Arts Promotion (大大娛樂) which is organizing the two-day event.

The featured heavy metal bands performing this year include: post-rock group Sun of Morning (晨曦光廊), Tainan metal outfit Burning Island (火燒島), thrash metal veterans Solemn (恕) and Out to Survive (適者生存), power pop/punk group Mister Mouth (嘴哥樂團) as well as deathcore act Sideffect (賽德費).

Other events include music forums with industry professionals, a craft market and snack stalls, and open mic performances.

“We hope a music festival like this creates a platform for more music to be heard,” Chiao said.

ADMISSION: Tickets are NT$1200 for one day (NT$900 advance) and NT$2,400 for two days (NT$1600 advance), available through Market Net Ticketing (大市集交易網) at www.dmarketnet.net or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks.